Young Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'Young' has its roots in Old English, derived from the word 'geong', meaning youthful. It evolved through historical forms such as 'Younger' in Middle English before taking its modern form. The name implies youthfulness and has no biblical ties. It gained popularity as a surname in medieval England and continues to be a common name today, associated with energy and vitality. Notable individuals with the name have contributed to its recognition.
The name Young is most popular in Kansas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Young has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Young' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1444th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1921st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2105th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2104th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2095th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5874th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 10526th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5501st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4343rd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6155th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6427th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 28314th out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Young' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Young"
Pronunciation
/jʌŋ/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name 'Young' originates from the Old English word 'geong', which means 'young' or 'youthful'. It was originally used as a surname to denote someone who was youthful or the younger of two individuals with the same name.
Meaning
youthful, young
Language Evolution
Geong (Old English), Younger (Middle English), Young (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity as a surname in England during the Middle Ages and has remained in use as both a surname and a given name into modern times.
Variants & Derivatives
Younger, Yong, Yunge
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, 'Young' is perceived as a name associated with vitality and energy, often seen in various cultural contexts, including as a surname in notable figures and as a first name.
Famous People
Young Thug (Jeffery Lamar Williams), Young Jeezy (Jay Wayne Jenkins), Young M.A (Katorah Marrero)
📊 Young Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Young Name Visualizations
✨ Young Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 60 peak births in 1991
Geographic Spread
Popular across 7 US states, with strongest presence in Kansas
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 13 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Young"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Young"
"Young" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1444th of 7545 | 406 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1921st of 6773 | 265 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2105th of 7552 | 282 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2104th of 10718 | 317 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2095th of 16616 | 514 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 5874th of 24088 | 206 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 10526th of 23106 | 67 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 5501st of 9204 | 41 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4343rd of 12526 | 155 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 6155th of 19264 | 123 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 6427th of 27321 | 193 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 28314th of 35406 | 13 |
Regional Popularity of "Young" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
61.45% 1454th/2366 |
71.80% 820th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
73.67% 1139th/1546 |
- |
82.83% 1949th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
44.05% 981st/2227 |
- |
77.71% 2217th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
49.30% 1448th/2937 |
55.90% 1947th/3483 |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
38.48% 1556th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
49.50% 2215th/4475 |
53.58% 2783rd/5194 |
24.73% 1562nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
44.45% 3317th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Young" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
74.06% 1145th/1546 |
- | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
53.03% 1181st/2227 |
- | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
85.12% 2500th/2937 |
- | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
85.79% 3839th/4475 |
- |
83.08% 5248th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Young"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Young" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.